There was not meant to be an over-arching theme for this weeks show, but as I finished my research I noticed there did seem to be a connection between all the tunes I’d chosen to play – it became (sort of) clear to me that it was all about things that might conceivably not exist if not for something else...

For example, "Livin’ Thing" by the ELO was originally written with lyrics about a holiday to Spain, so the final song may not exist if it were not for that original alternative (that’s never been heard); Barry Blue has an impressive pedigree in pop, but did that come from his rock pedigree (as a founding member of Uriah Heep)? And "Lady" by T. Rex was the b-side of Metal Guru & therefore made the single complete?

Briefly, here are the possible links for the other songs we heard:

Badfinger (written for the group by Paul McCartney); Queen (title of theatre production co-written by Ben Elton); Devo (cover of a Rolling Stones hit); Elvis Costello (double-entendres are about something else!); Jilted John (JJ is an alter-ego of Graham Fellows); Buzzcocks (song was inspired by a line from the musical "Guys & Dolls"); Boomtown Rats (25 years ago Sir Bob helped create Live Aid); Ramones (surf rock might not exist if not for the surfin’ Beach Boys!); Clash (short & fast – in the style of The Ramones)…

Generation X (produced by Mott The Hoople’s Ian Hunter); Dr Feelgood (the b-side of "Baby Jane"); Motorhead (formed by Lemmy when he was fired from Hawkwind for "using the wrong drugs"); Cock Sparrer (another Stones cover); Quo (released only because a later recorded song was a hit); Slade (a medley of two songs – the 2nd being recorded by Elvis Presley in July 1954 & became his 1st hit); Geordie (lead singer Brian Johnson left for the big time in AC/DC in 1980)…

Sweet (added rock to their bubble-gum songs & didn’t look back); Mud (Chinn & Chapman made so many hits); Peter Frampton (double albums have two discs!); Genesis (put together from two separate pieces of music being written by different members of the group); Golden Earring (green would not exist without "Yellow And Blue"!!); Supertramp (I would not be who I am without their albums); Bryan Ferry (cover of a Bob Dylan song); Japan (a song from the musical "Funny Girl"); Elton John (the title was said by Bernie Taupin’s wife about Elton after one of his tantrums); Steely Dan (I quote, "a fusion of funk rhythm & jazz harmonies with rock & roll instrumentals & lyrical style")…

Finally, Led Zeppelin (written in bits & pieces over a 3-year period); Yes (song has 2 parts – "Your Move" & "All Good People") & Neil Young (in 3 parts, moving from the past, to the present & to the future). Phew...

The full playlist for this weeks show was as follows:

1

The Electric Light Orchestra

Livin' Thing

2

Barry Blue

Do You Wanna Dance?

3

T. Rex

Lady

4

Badfinger

Come And Get It

5

Queen

We Will Rock You

6

Devo

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

7

Elvis Costello

Pump It Up

8

Jilted John

Jilted John

9

The Buzzcocks

Ever Fallen In Love…

10

The Boomtown Rats

Lookin' After No. 1

11

The Ramones

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

12

The Clash

White Riot

13

Generation X

King Rocker

14

Dr. Feelgood

Looking Back

15

Motorhead

Motorhead

16

Cock Sparrer

We Love You

17

Status Quo

Mean Gil

18

Slade

My Baby Left Me - That's All Right

19

Geordie

All Because Of You

20

The Sweet

Wig Wam Bam

21

Mud

Crazy

22

Peter Frampton

Wind Of Change

23

Genesis

Entangled

24

Golden Earring

Yellow And Blue

25

Supertramp

The Meaning

26

Bryan Ferry

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

27

Japan

Don't Rain On My Parade

28

Elton John

The Bitch Is Back

29

Steely Dan

Kid Charmagne

30

Led Zeppelin

Kashmir

31

Yes

I've Seen All Good People

32

Neil Young

After The Gold Rush

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